S&S

[onthefly]

As with most things, they won't be effective unless you and your baby are nearly ready to labour anyway.
Sex can also be helpful - again, the oxytocin will only do its thing if your uterus is ready.

[2CheekyMonkeys]

i had induction acupuncture. only thing was he wouldnt do it until my due date or just after my due date. not sure if it worked or was just timing but i had two sessions. the second session was 4 days before i had a show. HOWEVER, i had a show on the day i was booked into the hospital for induction at 10 days over. so really i dont know if it was just that i was so far overdue that it would have happened then anyway or if the acupuncture got something started. i also went 10 days over with my first pregnancy and i didnt have any signs of readiness but didnt have the accupunture that time. (sorry that is a total ramble i am too tired to go and clean up my sentences) LOL

[lise]

My ob did a S&S with DS at 41+1 and he was born within 20 hours, but I was 4cm dilated with a favourable cervix - she wouldn't do one until I was over 41 weeks. My midwife ths time is happy to do one from 39+5, someone in my Belly Buddy's group has a midwife who is happy to do it from 38 weeks! So it seems to depend on your caregiver as to when they'll do one.

[Maruschke]

Thanks all. I'm a huge skeptic (gosh really ) of natural inductions... I just don't think anything works but the big guns unless the baby says "yep, it's time".

[lise]

I did EVERYTHING last time, including three rounds of induction acupuncture! This time round I'm much less stressed as I know the baby will come when he's ready so no point stressing and trying to hurry him up. It's a much nicer feeling

[Sunny Love]

The MW gave me an internal at 38 weeks, and quite matter of factly told me that i'd be in labour that night My body had done its job and was ready for showtime although I was in strong denial and fearful of what was to come

She was right too. DS was born within 24hours after the internal.

[BellyBelly]

Membrane Stripping, Membrane Sweeping–just say NO | Gloria Lemay

I don’t like to put this type of study up on my blog because I think the data is obtained unethically i.e. the women involved are not fully informed that they may get an infection, release the membranes accidentally leading to induction, be subjected to unnecessary pain and suffering, put themselves at risk for a cesarean, have a premature baby, etc. etc etc. I’m posting this because this aggressive procedure is done without hesitation by many practitioners and perhaps some women will read this and warn their friends.

[HotI]

Thanks all. I'm a huge skeptic (gosh really ) of natural inductions... I just don't think anything works but the big guns unless the baby says "yep, it's time".

So, don't put yourself through it. you will just feel more ripped off when it doesn't work. i don't understand why you would want, or they would do, VEs from 36 weeks - it's not even 'full term' yet, its unneccessary and a potential source of infection let alone the psychological effect of 'nothing is happening' or 'i am x cm dilated, why is labour not starting'.

[Maruschke]

So, don't put yourself through it. you will just feel more ripped off when it doesn't work. i don't understand why you would want, or they would do, VEs from 36 weeks - it's not even 'full term' yet, its unneccessary and a potential source of infection let alone the psychological effect of 'nothing is happening' or 'i am x cm dilated, why is labour not starting'.

Oh yeah, the internals are meaningless unless they do a S&S which I don't think they would do at 36w. So I'm also confused about why they are offered and what it would achieve? Your current dilation, effacement and engagement cannot predict labour onset. As for the S&S, I'm trying to talk myself down from a formal induction into regular S&S only, as what I've read indicates that though they don't work for everyone, they do drastically reduce the chances of going post 41 weeks.